@Starfury: What's nice about the VISA/MC branded rebate gift card is that you don't have to bank it like you do a check. When I get one of those things, I immediately use the full amount to make an online payment to my wireless or cable account, then I can toss it. Beats losing it or keeping track of the declining balance.

Still, the tightwad in me realizes that if I have a $100 consumer rebate debit card vs. check, that's $100 I can't charge on my own credit card--and I miss out on a $2 cash-back rebate.

@s73v3r: That. Was. Awesome!

Personally speaking, I think I'm the only one in my family who has never experienced any issues with full service bank ATMs. My dad and my aunts have at least one story about an ATM experience gone totally awry.

The only thing remotely close I can mention is the Metrocard Vending Machines they have for the New York City subway - pretty similar to an ATM whereas purchasing fares are concerned. Had two different machines malfunction on me twice (both at "good" neighborhoods), taking in my money while failing to apply the value to the Metrocard and printing a receipt, putting me SOL. With that, bank ATMs failing and potentially leaving hapless users SOL doesn't sound too overstated to me.

Unless you need the money in the account immediately, the teller in you should remind you there's enough checks and balances in the chequing system that if you don't get the money, you can prove you didn't, and get another cheque cut. :^)

Of course, if it's a cheque from an untrustworthy source, I'll cash it at the teller. Best that way, anyways, so they can make a quick decision if it's rubber or not.

Chase recently finished replacing or converting the last of the holdouts (mostly former Washington Mutual branches and the one-off branches opened shortly after the JPMorgan merger) to deposit scanning ATMs.

@outlulz:

That's simply not true--in the main line area of Philadelphia where I live, those have gone the way of the dodo.

@ElPresidente408: I believe it hasn't yet been settled that rebate checks fall in this category. Here's a story from last year about the states suing one of the rebate processing houses: [www.startribune.com]

It might have been determined, but I haven't heard more about it.

@NeverLetMeDown: Exactly. I deposit all kinds of checks (and cash too) and the only problems I ever had were with the old non-scanner options when I would make a math error on a stack of checks.

Most, if not all, states have enacted escheatment laws such that any unclaimed rebate checks go to the state after about 5 years. Thus it's not in the best interest of the company nor the fulfillment house to make the check uncashable. The company has permanently paid out that money to someone as soon as your claim is processed.

You can then claim your money from the state after that point. But what they do with your money until you claim it is another story.

Some banks charge you for transactions made at a non-proprietary ATM - A cash grab, pure and simple. Generally, megabanks and brazen small banks/credit unions (probably ones that will probably fold in the next decade or so if they stay like that) are most likely to tack on this fee.

Of course, some ATM operators charge a fee for accepting a deposit for another financial institution too (TD Bank is one of them).

Combine both and that can eat up a good chunk of your money - perhaps one good for a decent fast food lunch.

But for "experience sake," I did try anyway (with low denominations).

Turns out that it's as simple as pressing the appropriate button corresponding to the on-screen screen (or touching the appropriate area of the screen if the ATM has a touch screen display).

From there, you insert the content-filled, sealed envelope OR the cash/check at the appropriate slot when prompted (depending on the ATM).

@coren: Heh, that's probably more important. Makes you wonder sometimes how a bank can even remain in existance with such irresponsible handling of financial instruments!

@catnapped:

Fair enough, but I can tell you, I have deposited literally hundreds of checks in ATMs (haven't used a bank teller for anything but a certified check in at least a decade), and I have had exactly zero problems. YMMV, of course.

But, actually, I've never had any problems depositing them in my bank account.

In their case BoA might have store locations nearby...but they might not either. There aren't really any in stores near me - other banks have swooped them up. We're a little saturated with banking options out here - there are about 17 banks in a square mile radius in the nearest area to do shopping out here (no, 18, BECU just opened) and not a single one of them is a repeat.

I like new technology too, but the new technology and the checks should work. I mean this is a more BoA problem than the rebate, but why are they putting out machines that won't accept some checks (and given BoA's track record, I'd be hesitant to mail them anything and hope they put it in my account)

BofA actually tends to discourage many accountholders from using teller window services for anything that can otherwise be done online, on the automated phone system, or at an ATM

So a branch that had no ATMs capable of taking odd-sized checks for deposit would be more than happy to help you at the teller window, right?

In fact, based on what you're saying, that wouldn't be a $3 hit - it would be free because the ATM can't process the transaction. Or did I miss something in what you said?

I assume you're not in charge of reading people or interpreting things for anything important.

I also use direct deposit for my paychecks. Not only do I not have to take time to make a deposit or worry about ATM safety, but by midnight on payday, the money's already there for me.

My biggest concern with the updated BoA atms is the fact that they display your deposit amount and checking account balance with very large numerals that could be viewed by an ill-intentioned passerby. My small town doesn't have those high-security panic-room style ATMs either. Just watch-your-back walkups.

I don't know if other banks have started doing this as well to discourage frequent teller use (and thus justify downsizing the number of tellers hired) -- I know it's well-established at Consumerist that BofA sucks, anyhow.

That said, I don't think there's an actual conspiracy afoot. I sometimes think that manufacturers hope people don't turn in the rebate paperwork and forget about the rebate check that's coming to them, but if it's a big enough rebate check that won't fit into the ATM, I'll take my $3 hit.

Then again, I generally don't find myself enticed to buy an item advertised as having a mail-in rebate. When I recently renewed my cell phone plan, I chose a phone that would cost me $35 rather than the one that would be $25 after the mail-in rebate (but $75 upfront). The phones both did what I wanted to do and I've heard too many stories of people getting cheated out of their rebates to find the latter offer attractive.

If it's First Class Mail, it might be worth opening. Standard Mail: never.

Wow.

See, it's actually called looking before I bitch and complain about everything on the planet and pretend that I'm the center of everything.

And it's also thinking for 3 seconds along the lines of, "these odd-sized checks existed before check scanners...so perhaps I should ask myself why the check scanners were designed to only handle a narrow range of check sizes rather than try to automatically go into some pavlovian 'banks are evil' response..."

You know, like a human being capable of critical thought would do.

I never use ATM's for depositing, only for withdrawing. My paychecks are direct deposit, so the only time I deposit is rebate checks and the like - it's worth it to me to go to the credit union once a month or so and deposit in person.

@Colonel Jack O'Neill:

I make ALOT of deposits and have only ONCE in years stepped inside a branch to make one. ATM machines are reliable as heck. Keep your receipt with the transaction number on it in the very rare care there is an issue and you have to call.

Easy enough.

OK, there is a story here. I personally hate postcard checks since they reveal my business to anyone who reads the postcard.

However, there are TWO models of BofA scanning ATM machines. Those made by NCR and those made by Diebold.

When first installed the NCR machines were VERY tricky and would not scan most "smaller" checks and postal money orders. The Diebold ones would take almost anything and be able to read them.

I had two nearby branches, one had a NCR one had a Diebold and when the NCR refused a check, the Diebold machine always scanned it fine.

I mentioned this inside a branch to a branch manager and got a blank stare. She didn't even seen to know who "NCR" and "Diebold" were. I was amazed she had not been trained on this stuff.

ANYWAY, there seems to have been an upgrade to the NCR software and now the BofA scanning ATMs seem to accept postcard checks too.

The OP has a good point. These ATMs makes ALOT more work for the customer if the check or cash is not accepted by the ATM for some reason and there is no option for "this ATM is wrong, please insert a deposit in an envelope"

That said, things are improving.

@Colonel Jack O'Neill: At the banks near me, the inline counters and drive-up tellers always tend to have long lines, and most of the transactions I need to do can be done at one of 5 ATMs that my branch has (and they rarely have a line).

If the rebate check is rejected by the ATM, I can either write the check off and forget about it, or I need to go to a window with a real person, after waiting in line. If the rebate is worth less than $5 I need to determine how much money my time is worth. Is it worth waiting in line for 5 minutes and the gas to get to/from the gas to deposit a $5 rebate? For many people, the answer is no.

I checked the hours for my bank, and it most certainly is not open weekends at any branch anywhere ever. They are open 10 to 6 in the winter and 10 to 5 in the summer.

However, I picked them because they are across the street from my work and treat me a hell of a lot nicer than the "big" banks who give me constant hassle (The last one was refusing to deposit a countersigned cheque--I didn't even want the funds, a 30+ day hold was even just fine with me, they just outright refused! Fark that!) Credit Unions FTW! I doubt that credit unions not being open weekends is an oddity just related to Canada. It's probably also common in the 'states.

However, I can say, banks in grocery stores are an oddity that exists only in the US, AFAICT, and I question whether it has penetrated all of the US states, since the last time I was there proper (Pre 9/11, like most Canadians) I never saw a single one. We do have one oddball bank in a grocery store here, but that's only because the grocery store itself owns the bank (what a weird combo!) :)

Never used or tried deposit by mail, it is an interesting idea, though. Might give it a shot if my CU supports it. It means I can be even more lazy than I am right now! WOOHOO!

Chadraytay bought it for a dollar because he bothered to file the rebate. Since I do file rebates, I'm happy to use them.

Rebate pricing allows those of us who actually keep out stuff organized to get a better price, at the expense of the lazy and/or sloppy. I have no problem with that.

And it's not like this is a handwritten check. For handwritten checks, I could understand. Maybe it can't decipher the handwriting. But for a printed check? Please.

I mean, if you have 30 checks, you shouldn't be worried about stacking them "just right" to save BofA the cost of an envelope - and the scanners should take odd-sized deposits...

Bnks r pn n wknds. Bnks dn't jst sty pn 9-5 - thr's lwys t lst n, f nt tw lngr hr dys t ccmmdt cstmrs.

nd thn, thr's th grcry str ptn. Bf s n tn f grcry strs ll crss th cntry. Mst mjr bnks r.

nd thy ffr dpst by ml.

Ths s cstmr tht lvs NW nd shny tchnlgy tht dsn't wnt t b bthrd t d smthng lk thnk fr 2 mnts.

@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: I've only seen one of those out of the 10 that take one check at a time. But that's BOA for you.

"And as far as "honest discount" goes. When was the last time you 1000 sheets of brand name printer paper (24lb 98white) for 1$ at a normal sale."

Why then ,can't they just sell you 1000 sheets of brand name paper (24 lb 98 white) for a dollar ? Why get the postal service involved ? You seem immune to logic.

Then again, last time I was at BoA and the manager asked everyone in line for the tellers, for the eighth time! to use the ATMs instead and I politely told him that I prefer to go to the teller, even if there's a wait, he looked at me like I had four heads. So maybe it is a little off-base...would be interested to hear others opinions...

;)

@DAK: Can you deposit cash at those ATM's If yes, it seems even if the postcard-check gave you grief, the OP could toss it in an envelope and deposit it the "old" way.

...Or the sexy teller.

@Snarkysnake:

Damn, you are absolutely correct.

@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: Plus, if you have several checks, it is an incredibly slow process. Insert single check, wait, wait, wait, scan, confirm (or enter) amount, back to beginning, do you want to scan another check?, etc. etc. When I deposit the 5 handwritten rent checks I receive every month, it seems to take forever.

@coren: Plus, with fewer branches around, there aren't that many tellers (sexy or otherwise) to go in to talk to.

That said, the rebate companies have to be aware of this "fringe benefit" to steal the OP's wording, and he's right in that they won't be making any big effort to get it fixed.

That's not lazy at all.

Also, newfangled doesn't set off Firefox's spell check. That's neat!

When was the last time you used a mail in rebate?

And as far as "honest discount" goes. When was the last time you 1000 sheets of brand name printer paper (24lb 98white) for 1$ at a normal sale.

The rebate sales are usually massively better than a normal sale.

Rebates are designed so that consumers, for one reason or another, will not complete all the steps required to get their money. That's why it's a "mail-in rebate" rather than just an honest discount at the register.

The more steps, and the more difficult/tricky/tedious each step is, the more likely it is that the company gets to keep your money. So yeah, making the check inconvenient to cash is probably good for a single-digit percentage increase in uncashed checks. Which could mean millions of extra dollars in profit.

If someone's offering you a mail-in rebate, they're basically making you think you're getting a discount, secure in the knowledge that there's a good chance that their rebate process will psychologically defeat you. Don't reward those slimy businesses with your patronage.

nd hw scr s tht fr th rbt cmpny, mn y hv thr chckng ccnt nd rtng nmbr n pln sght fr nyn t rd, nd smn cn frg yr sgntr syng tht y sgnd t vr t thm, thn thy g nd pt t n thr ccnt, r g t chck cshng plc nd csh t.

I just wish they would work more consistantly. I have a few along our various routes that we normally travel. Sometimes the ATM is just down in general, but more oftin the ATM rejects a normal check saying that it can't be read. Sometimes it will let you put in the amount, other times it's just flat out rejection. A little more consistancy would be nice!

The only conspiracy is to save the cost of mailing a normal check - both in terms of paper envelope and additional postage.

No sympathy for the OP from me. Just say no.

This really does come across as a petty gripe. Even if an ATM rejects a particular deposit, forcing the customer to go to a teller, that's better than accepting the deposit only to screw it up on the back end, causing checks to bounce, etc.

Of all the things to hate BofA for, this is minor at best.

@aishel: I'll agree on that one. However, with about 75 rebates under my belt, I can say that I've received every one. The only exception was a company that went out of business, but then the original retail store made good on it, so I still got the $$$.

Bank of America does offer Bank by Mail service:
Link: Bank of America - Bank by Mail mailing addresses